A/N: Merry belated Christmas everyone! I hope you survived the holidays - I feel like I gained 10 pounds and can only roll instead of walk from one place to another. Thanks so much to the amazing waterbaby134 for her help with this chapter. I'm sorry for the long wait, but I really hope it was worth it. For those of you who are awaiting a Bachelorette AU update, I hope I'll be able to update that one before New Year. Now please enjoy! I would love to know what you think about it!

(2)

Tink kept babbling on and on. He should probably be listening but he couldn't, not really, when it felt like a new surprise was hiding behind every corner in this weird place. There were thick wooden doors with heavy locks in front of them. Apart from a small wooden table covered with a red colored cloth and crystal vase with a single red rose - probably from the garden outside -, all positioned under an intimidating cross on the wall above, Robin had not seen any sort of decoration in this place. There was an unsettling lack of warmth here, which made the blood run cold in his veins. Also, Robin had a feeling he just could not shake off. Was he being watched? Even though he turned around multiple times to check, he couldn't make anyone out. Don't be ridiculous, he told himself; this is an Asylum not a madhouse. Though at this moment he actually wondered where the difference was. This was an institution for mad people and whether he liked it or not, he had to try and survive the next year without becoming insane himself.

Up until now they hadn't met anyone else on their way down to the kitchen. Tink kept babbling on and on. Surely it would be better to listen to her, however Robin could just not concentrate. The image of the beautiful young raven haired woman in her white gown sitting under the tree just wouldn't leave his mind. He wondered what her story was. Why would such a precious creature be locked up in an asylum? Should he ask Tink about her?

They climbed down the last flight of stairs, which lead to some kind of an atrium. Tall wooden doors with engravings that Robin was sure showed some kind of biblical scene blocked their path.

"This is the entrance to the great dining hall. If you go over there," Tink pointed toward the other end of the atrium through which Robin could see a few familiar stairs, "You'll get back to the entrance hall. It's a little confusing, I know, but the dining hall is the heart of the castle. Back in the days it was used for balls and stuff like that. For a short period of time it even served as a church. You'll see, we will hold our Sunday morning mass in here, too. It's obligatory for all residents and staff, just so you know. All other morning and evening masses are held in the chapel, if you're interested. Now, except for Sunday mornings, most of our residents come and eat here - those who cannot come because they are disabled or simply because it would be too dangerous for them, take their meals inside their rooms. Let's go and see if Granny's already setting up supper."

Tink pushed one of the heavy doors open and slipped inside, Robin following closely behind. He'd expected the hall to be great but he hadn't expected this. Light was falling inside through the windows with colored glass, diving everything into a sea of colors. The hall seemed to stretch out at least two thirds of a football field; the ceiling with elaborated wall paintings in multiple colors was so tall Robin had to bend his neck to see right up. The five long rows of dark wooden tables stretched the room even more. At the top of the hall were a few modern looking windows that served as the pass-through to the kitchen. A delicious smell of roast hung in the air, making Robin's mouth water immediately. Up until now he hadn't realized how hungry he really was, so the prospect of a juicy piece of roast and sauce with boiled potatoes made his stomach grumble. A laugh escaped Tink, which made him shamefully put a hand onto his belly.

"I'm sorry. It's been a while since I last had something that smelled so delicious." He thought back to the prison food, an unidentifiable salty pulp that had tasted like the sole of a shoe. The first few days he'd declined to eat it, had thrown it into the waste and just nibbled at the piece of bread they'd gotten for breakfast. Not because he was the pickiest of people, but the grief for Marian and the forlornness of the situation had made him fall into depression so deep, he couldn't have cared less for such a mundane practice as eating. Soon however, he'd given in. Grieving, he may be, but hunger had a way of making bad things seem worse, and it was better to have a full belly than starve to death. The option to kill himself had been too easy anyway. He was responsible for Marian's death and wherever she was now, he hoped she was better. He didn't deserve that, didn't deserve to feel better. What he deserved was every single bit of sole pulp, every sip of foul water and every beating from the prison guard Officer Nottingham had bribed, who'd made it his personal business to make his time in prison hell. Hell. Robin was sure he deserved it.

Tink eyed his ever-changing facial expression with a curious look before she nudged his shoulder to pull him out of his thoughts. "Oh Granny will be pleased to hear that it smells nice. She's an amazing cook, let me tell you. I don't know how she manages it but her food will make you want to stay forever!"

A nervous laugh escaped him, but Tink deliberately ignored it, dragging him along to the top of the hall while explaining more and more to him. "Breakfast is every morning at 7:30 am, except for Sundays, then it's served at 9 am so afterwards everyone can attend the 10 o'clock mass. Lunch is at 12:30 pm and supper at 6 pm. Make sure you're never late for the meals and stay away only when you're formally excused from Mother Superior herself. The rules here are very strict." She made a face, which turned into a grimace.

"Everyone has their own spot. You'll be sitting over there with the other staff members. Remind me to show you your seat after we've got something to eat for you."

They walked over to the door next to the pass-through windows that lead to the kitchen. It was a spacious area with lots of conglomerate ovens, stoves and tables on the wall. In the far back were two large basins with drainers, which were probably for the dishes. It didn't look like there was a dishwasher anywhere near, so Robin wondered who exactly was responsible for cleaning all the pans and dishes after the meals.

The two only people in the room were an older lady with grey hair that was neatly done up in a bun and round glasses through which she observed the boy next to her. His hair was short and brown; he was probably not much older than ten or eleven. He didn't notice the newly arrived guests since he was too busy stirring the dough in the bowl in front of him with such precision; Robin wondered why such a precious boy would be locked up in an asylum.

"Oh my God, you're making Granny's famous chocolate cookies?" Tink exclaimed excited, "Has she finally given away her recipe?"

The boy looked up, his eyes sparkling with joy at the appearance of the blonde nun. "Tinkerbelle! There you are! I knew you would come sooner or later." He abandoned the dough and jumped down the chair to hug the petite woman fiercely. "Granny has taught me the recipe by heart, but I promised her to never tell anyone. It's our secret."

"Well then, secrets must be kept. You know me, Henry. I can never stay away from Granny's cookies, especially not when you helped her make them. Yours always taste even more special." Tink ruffled his hair before she tried to get a peek on the dough in the bowl that Granny had continued to stir.

"I'll remember that the next time you come begging me for one," Granny remarked grinning but she let the boy have his praise.

"You came just in time for the super special ingredient!" Henry grinned, dragging her over to the counter.

"And what would that be?" Granny asked, "I thought you remembered the recipe by heart, Henry. Did we forget something?" The old woman seemed amused, shooting Robin a quick glance and then a nod before she turned back to Henry.

"Oh Granny, you know mine are always extra, extra special. And for this we need the special ingredient! Fairy dust of course! Tink, you have to put your fairy dust inside!"

"Oh my, of course! How could I forget?" Tink hit her forehead with her palm as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Robin watched her reach onto the pocket of her dress and pull out a small glass bottle with a yellow colored glittering powder. She added some of it into her hand and blew it on the cookies.

"Now close your eyes and wish, Henry." Henry did as he was asked, closed his eyes fiercely and then clapped his hands excitedly before he politely asked Granny whether he could continue with the stirring.

"What did you wish for?" Tink asked curiously, but Henry laughed it off.

"You know I cannot tell you, Tink, otherwise the wish won't come true. You of all fairies should know that."

"Make sure the fairy dust is well spread throughout the dough, Henry. But first we shouldn't be rude and welcome our new guest here, shouldn't we?" She wiped the hands clean on her apron before walking over to Robin who was still standing in the doorway, not sure if he was allowed to come in. If he'd learned one thing in prison then that the cooks were very protective of their kitchen.

"Come in, young man, come inside. I'm Greta Lucas, but everyone - including this one over there - calls me Granny. I promised Henry to make cookies for his friends today. Now are you one of our new residents or are you a new caregiver?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. uh… Granny. I'm not a resident, I'm the new gardener, I think?"

"That's right. He's helping David with the gardens for now, but I'm sure he'll be happy to help with the dishes and laundry from time to time, too," Tink grinned while sneaking a bit of dough from the bowl.

"A helping hand in the kitchen is always appreciated, young man."

"Hey, Tink! You mustn't eat raw cookie dough with fairy dust. It will give you a tummy ache," Henry pointed out, pulling the bowl away from her. Tink threw Granny a scandalized look, but the old woman only shrugged.

"You heard the boy. No sneaking cookie dough."

"But I'm a fairy! I live off fairy dust!"

"You just want to have the dough," Henry concluded before he took the bowl and carried it off to another counter further away from things. "Fairies like sweet things. You can have a cookie when they're done."

"You have gotten yourself a deal, Mister. Now since you are baking for your friends, perhaps Robin can have one of your special fairy dust cookies for dessert, too?" The loud gasp Henry let out was followed by the clang of the metal bowl on the stone floor.

"Henry!" Granny scolded the young boy, walking over to him to retrieve the bowl from the floor while Henry continued staring at Robin. Thankfully the dough was so sticky nothing had fallen out, so Granny set the bowl on the nearest counter, grasping the shivering young boy's face but not able to get a reaction out of him.

"What is happening? He's probably in shock. Henry? Henry, can you hear me?"

"Should I call Dr. Hopper?" Tink asked shocked. She flinched when Henry's eyes ripped away from Robin and stared right back at her. He whispered something they didn't understand.

"Henry? What did you say? Oh sit down, my boy…" Granny carefully led him over to a chair where she pressed him down. His lips continued moving but no sound came out. Instead, his hands started shivering when he raised one and pointed at Robin.

"Where's the house phone, Granny? I'll ask Dr. Hopper to come down here." Granny pointed toward the wall next to the back door where a black phone rested against the wall. Tink was just about to pick up the receiver when Henry started to talk.

"You found him." They stopped in their movements. Tink hung the receiver back into its place and rushed over to Henry, Granny and Robin, who seemed a little lost at what to do with the situation. "I knew you'd find him sooner or later," Henry whispered, the color returning to his face. He dropped back against the back of the chair, breathing heavily.

"Henry, what are you talking about?" Granny wondered. Her hand went to his forehead to check him for temperature but he was cold against her touch. "Do you know Robin?"

Robin swallowed hard, going through his memory and wondering if he'd ever seen the kid somewhere before. No, not that he could remember.

"Robin. He's Robin Hood. He's gonna save her. He's gonna save all of us from her. I knew you would find him, Tinkerbelle. I knew you would." His hand reached out to Robin who reluctantly stepped closer to grab the boy's cold, shaking hand. "Robin. You must find her and tell her it's going to be okay - but she cannot go through with her plan. Snow knows. She's seen her and she will betray her." His gaze flickered over to Granny and Tinkerbelle before they went back to Robin. "You're her last chance. Please."

"Who are you talking about, Henry? Henry?" Robin grabbed the boy's shoulder but his eyes rolled backward and he dropped unconscious. "Oh my God, what happened?"

"Call Dr. Hopper, Greena. Now!" Tink flinched at Granny's harsh voice and jumped up to call the house doctor. The old woman herself dropped down next to Henry and checked his pulse.

"His heart is beating too fast. Damn it!" Granny looked around before her eyes stopped at Robin. "You look like a strong man, Mr. Robin. Do you think you can carry him to the Hospital Wing?"

Robin nodded, scooping the unconscious boy up in his arms. "Lead the way."

Tink and Granny rushed Robin who was carrying Henry toward the Hospital Wing. Right now he didn't care about remembering the way, he had to make sure he wouldn't trip with the boy in his arms. Two great wooden doors on front of him opened almost automatically and a man clad in a black frock with a stethoscope slung around his neck came toward them.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Hopper," he quickly introduced himself before he led the way to a free hospital bed where Robin was allowed to put the boy down. His breathing had evened out and the color had come back to his face. "What happened?" the doctor asked.

Granny gave him a quick summary of the events while Robin and Tink waited a few feet away to give the doctor and nurses enough room to work their magic.

"What… what happened?" Robin whispered in a low voice, afraid to disturb the doctor and his work.

Tink let out a heartbroken sigh. "Henry, he… he's our youngest resident and he's suffering from hallucinations. Sometimes it is quite adorable but in moments like these… We don't know where it's coming from. He has these dropouts sometimes but most of the time he is okay. It hasn't happened in a while and only when something gets him really riled up…"

"Do you think it was my fault?" Robin asked devastated.

"No… I don't know, Robin," Tink answered sincerely. "All I know is that they happen sometimes. He… Henry believes everyone here to be a fairy tale character, you know? That we're all cursed by some Evil Queen to live here in the real world. His fantasy knows no boundaries and he has a way of making people believe. That's why he and most other people here call me Tink - from Peter Pan's Tinkerbelle."

Robin nodded understanding. "That's why you had the 'fairy dust'."

"It's just colored sugar. Sweetens everything a little, but he believes it's real. He thinks Ruby is Red Riding Hood and Granny the Grandmother from the tale - that's why he calls her Granny. We've taken over some of his names to make his life easier and our lives a little more cheerful. He's a happy boy, you know. Smart, loving… his stories are a bit confusing sometimes but he's content if you say you believe him and go along with it. He probably heard me call you Robin and concluded that you must be Robin Hood."

"That's what he called me," Robin remembered. "But he said more… what… what was he talking about?"

"I don't know," Tink mumbled, her eyes wandering over to Henry who had just been covered with a thick blanket to keep his shivering body warm. He looked so small and fragile in this oversized bed, it made Robin's heart ache for the young sick boy.

Even though Henry's words didn't make any sense to him, Robin would make sure he'd write them down once he got the chance. He'd been a criminal once - a really good one and if he could sniff out one thing, it was lies. Tink had lied to him when she'd told him she didn't know who Henry was talking about. This place was turning more and more into a mystery for him. Why would she lie? Who was going to betray who? Was someone in danger?

While Dr. Hopper finished off with Granny, the older lady quickly excused herself and headed back to the kitchen since supper wouldn't finish itself. She was in a hurry because she'd forgotten the roast was still in the oven and Ruby wouldn't be there to check on it until later this afternoon. Still, she took another moment at Henry's bed. "I'll remember to finish off your cookies and have someone bring them to you, my boy," she whispered softly to into his ear and patted his head. She then promised to see them all in a few hours and thanked Dr. Hopper and the nurses for their help.

Robin had lost all appetite over the events of this afternoon.

"Come along, I'll show you back to your room so you can unpack." Tink threw one last glance at Henry, a sorry look on her face, before she left, Robin following close behind her. If he could remember the way, he'd go and check upon the boy after supper.

Xxxxx

A few hours earlier…

The light breeze swept over the hill like a tingling splash of cold water, tousling her hair slightly. It wasn't cold, no, not anymore. Even though her dress was too light for this time of the year, the grey wool jacket kept her comfortably warm against the breeze. It was nice to feel things again, to be able to smell, to touch, to taste. The numbness that had held her body captive for so long lessened and lessened with each day passing by. Soon she would be ready – but not yet, it was still too early. She still caught herself drifting off back into the numbness far too often. On the other hand, this was good. This way people didn't really notice when she was just sitting somewhere, rubbing the fabric of her dress absently. It was easy for her to stare at one spot for hours with a fake smile on her face, blinking perhaps once or twice until her eyes became so dry she lay down and faked sleep.

She was used to not answering when people talked to her, to just pushing her head a little to the side, smiling and playing with a strand of her hair. They may think she was listening, but she wasn't, not really. When nobody listened to her, they didn't deserve to have her listen to them either. Perhaps she would have been better off if she'd stayed in her delirium. No. No, she mustn't think like that. It wasn't right to lock her up in here with a bunch of lunatics! She wanted freedom, she wanted to be able to decide for herself, she wanted… "Daniel."

Carefully she closed her dry eyes, her hands stopped to smooth the fabric on her legs for a moment. Take a deep breath. One deep breath. Hold it… a bit longer. Now let it out. She repeated this two more times before she opened her eyes once more and continued to stare at the castle she disdainfully called prison. Misthaven - Asylum for the Insane. Only she wasn't. No matter what people might think, what she might have told people, she wasn't insane!

"I am not insane." The words were spoken out loud by her but it still felt like she was hearing them through cotton, said by someone far, far away.

The thing with lies was… the more often you were told them, the more you believed them. She almost would have - believed them, she thought. She'd wanted to kill herself for believing them - this was what lies did to you. Her feet started to feel numb under her, her legs already asleep. Numb. Numbness was everything she'd known for three years and now… now the feelings were coming back. Now she was ready to take matters into her own hands.

His scent betrayed him before she saw him running toward her, with his knees on the ground and his hands clutching the damp grass before he came to a halt in front of her. Graham. Her hands were shaking, wouldn't obey and only when he winced and nudged her in the side she was able to rip her eyes away from the prison toward the man in front of her.

"You came," she whispered quietly, scared anyone would hear them. She patted his head and removed a few of the wild strands that spread out to all sides. There were twigs and leaves caught everywhere and the wolf was dirty - very dirty. "And you need a bath."

He let out a growl followed by a wince as if the idea of a bath was the most horrifying thing to him. "But I don't want you to get fleas, Graham. Next time I bath, we can bathe together, how does that sound?" Graham barked approvingly and settled down next to her. "I thought you might like that. Men."

She wanted to laugh, wanted to chuckle, but could only bring herself to crack a smile while she continued to pat his head and back. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes or in the night, it was almost like she could hear him talk back to her, a deep voice underneath the humming and growling. Just like now when she could swear she heard someone say: "Being watched."

Oh, it was nothing new for her to be watched. In the first two years she'd always been watched due to orders from her. . . But then she'd been given even stronger pills, pills that made her number and number until she couldn't even feel her own body anymore, which tied her to her bed for weeks. For some reason it had stopped though. She'd stared to feel better with Graham. He'd come to sleep in front of her door and one time, Sister Tink had let him inside where he'd took a stand at the end of her bed. He'd lie with her when the bad dreams came, soothing her like no one else had before. And suddenly the numbness had lessened. She'd share the meat of her food with him and let him have his small space at the end of her bed. With him she felt safe. He was her only true friend in this goddamn prison, her only true friend next to Henry, the boy who thought she was a princess who needed to be saved from her. Oh if she only was. If only all of this was a fairy tale like Henry believed, if only all of them were cursed by the Evil Queen like Henry had told her over and over again. But no one could be saved or save her from her, no one. They were doomed to live here for the rest of their lives, to live in an asylum for the insane. Perhaps it would be possible. Perhaps it would be for someone like her, for someone who didn't belong here, who was not insane. With Graham's help. She let her eyes gaze around carefully but couldn't see anyone close by.

"Tower." She flinched, her eyes flying over to Graham who lay peacefully beside her with eyes closed and a content grimace that could be mistaken for a smile if she didn't know it was him on full alert. Slowly, she lifted her head toward the tower in the East Wing. The window was open - it usually was to let fresh air inside but there was an unfamiliar frame staring right back at her. She could see him in the window watching her and Graham and for a moment it was as if their gaze locked together despite the distance. It was a man, a new one. A new employee?

"Have you met this man already, Graham?" she asked curiously, dragging her gaze away from the tower and back to her wolf friend. Graham hummed. "Is he nice?" Another hum. "Well aren't you a talkative one today," she sighed back, the content fake smile she was used to settling back on her lips.

"Friend." Graham's sincere forest green eyes locked with hers and stole her breath away. She could swear he'd talked to her, could swear he'd spoken to her, but it wasn't possible.

"My mind is playing games with me again. But fine… if you think he's a friend, perhaps… perhaps he could help me. But I have to be careful. We have to be careful. You're with me in this, aren't you?" Graham nudged her side with his head and this time, she smiled for real. "I knew you would be, my friend."

They continued to sit there until the bell for supper rang. Graham was the one to jump up like he'd been bitten by a bee and ran over to the back door of the kitchen where he knew Granny would have a big slice of raw meat prepared for him. She herself would continue to sit under the tree until someone came looking for her and would scold her for making the others wait for so long. It was another side effect of the pills, the losing track of the time. But who was she to blame? Back when the numbness had always been there she'd been out for days, only remembering small fragments of what happened over the time.

"Regina!" Someone yelled down from the hill. Apparently this time they had sent sister Ariel. "Regina come on, everyone is waiting for you to come to supper."